A Schofield Barracks soldier who was walking along H-2 Freeway in the dark following an argument was hit by a car and critically injured just after midnight yesterday, police said.

Pfc. Jesse Hart was on foot after getting out of a friend's car because of an argument, police said. He was walking along the freeway when a car traveling north hit him just before the Wahiawa off-ramp about 12:25 a.m., police said.

Hours earlier, Hart had celebrated his 21st birthday on a double date, said his grandmother, Linda Hart, in his hometown of Boyd, Texas.

"The information I got was that he and another soldier was on a double date," Linda Hart told The Advertiser. "And he and this other soldier got into an argument and the soldier kicked him out of the car. And Jesse started walking."

Police said alcohol consumption by Hart may have been a factor.

Hart was hit by a 1994 Honda Civic driven by a 25-year-old Wahiawa man. Alcohol, drugs or speeding did not appear to be factors on the part of the driver of the Honda, police said.

Hart sustained severe head injuries and possible internal injuries, police said. He was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.

Loran Doane, Schofield Barracks spokesman, said Hart was a member of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, which began returning from Iraq in February following a 15-month deployment.

"This is what's so tragic about deployments," Doane said. "There he lived through the worst of the worst. And then this happens here."

Linda Hart said the news of her grandson's highway incident after safely returning from Iraq had caught the family off guard.

"I'm really kind of in shock right now," said Hart, shortly after the family learned about about what had happened. She said her son, Sean Hart, Jesse Hart's dad, had spoken with her grandson's battalion commander who said the soldier had been taken off a respirator, which the commander took to be an encouraging sign.

She said during her grandson's deployment it had at times been difficult for the family to keep in touch with him.

"I know my church and myself sent him a couple of care packages," she said. "But he said he didn't get them."